ASU to Combine Teachers College, Infant Child Research Programs Preschools

The new Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Preschool will offer an inclusive education model to enable all children to reach their potential.
Photo by: Connie Waldo, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College

Arizona State University is combining the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Preschool and the Infant Child Research Programs Preschool to allow for more children to benefit from the collective services. This combination of early childhood services will further integrate scientifically-based best practices into the preschool setting to create an enriching experience for children that is unique in metropolitan Phoenix. The combined preschool will be called Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College Preschool.

In August 2014, the Teachers College preschool will move from its current location in the Farmer Education Building on ASU’s Tempe campus to the university’s Community Service Building at 200 E. Curry Rd. (northeast corner of Mill Avenue and Curry Road). The facility has free parking with easy drop-off and pick-up for parents.

“Children will benefit from a facility that was designed to meet their needs, and ASU students will have additional opportunities for experiential learning,” said Jeanne Wilcox, director of the research programs and Nadine Mathis Basha Professor in Early Childhood Education.

During the past 25 years, the Teachers College preschool has provided traditional early educational experiences for children ages three to five years, and served as a teacher preparation and research site for early childhood pre-service teachers, graduate students and faculty.

To serve children with diverse developmental needs, the combined preschool will incorporate an inclusive education model that reflects Teachers College initiatives in early childhood special education. The model is designed to enable each child to reach his or her potential.

Beginning in August, preschool children will receive a new play-based curriculum (Teaching Early Literacy and Language, or TELL) that has been extensively tested and includes learning objectives aligned with the new state of Arizona Early Learning Standards. The TELL curriculum was developed by Wilcox and program co-director Shelley Gray, an associate professor in ASU’s College of Health Solutions, with more than $6 million in research grants from the U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences.

All classes will be staffed by a teaching team, and the preschool will benefit from additional integration of ASU’s related services and research. ASU students from a variety of majors will have the opportunity to experience hands-on teaching and training.

The combined preschool will offer expanded hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be open more days throughout the year. Also, more programming will be available to parents and early childhood educators in the community.

There will be an open house for families and community members to visit the new facility at ASU’s Community Services Building  from 4:30-6 p.m., April 16,

All other services currently available through the Infant Child Research Programs will continue as they are at present, including the toddler play groups, home-based early intervention, assessment and evaluation, individual speech and language sessions, and the summer SPELL camp.